Winnetka, Ill. - The Performing Arts Division at New Trier High School is proud to present
Kinesis
, its student dance company, in concert on Feb. 8 and 9 at 7 p.m. and Feb. 10 at 2 p.m. in the Cornog Auditorium at the Northfield Campus. Tickets are available at the door and online at
www.showclix.com
.

CONGRATULATIONS TO JOHANNAH WININSKY, NAMED IAHPERD'S 2017-18 ILLINOIS DANCE TEACHER OF THE YEAR and MIDWEST SHAPE AMERICA DANCE TEACHER OF THE YEAR! She will be honored with a plaque in October, and is in the running for the NATIONAL DANCE TEACHER AWARD. We wish her the best!

Justin Durham, who graduated from New Trier High School in 2014 before earning his Bachelor of Arts from the National Centre for Circus Arts in London, returned to his alma mater to share various circus arts and dance techniques with the students of Menz Dance, one of his favorite performance groups from his time at New Trier.

This is a modern dance-based curriculum integrated with ballet, jazz, world dance forms, and somatics. Four levels of dance as well as
Menz Dance
are offered to accommodate the developmental needs of female and male students, and encompass technical training, improvisation, composition, performance and critical analysis. Courses in dance share the essential understandings of the Kinetic Wellness department and contribute to personal wellness.

All courses in the Dance Division, with the exception of
Freshman Dance 2
, satisfy the Kinetic Wellness graduation requirement. Sophomores may elect dance in place of
Kinetic Wellness 2
, but they must fulfill one semester of health education. Only
Kinetic Wellness 1
/
Dance I,
and
Dance I
do not require a placement class.

Students have a variety of opportunities to participate in co-curricular and extracurricular performances and dance events throughout the year.

PHILOSOPHY

Technical training, creating, performing and evaluating are the essential elements in the study of dance as an art form. The Dance Division regards the creative process to be of
equal importance
to technical training or finished products. Problem-solving, cooperative learning, critical thinking and self expression are the cornerstones of the Dance Division's educational philosophy. Dance naturally occurs as an interdisciplinary art form that incorporates all the arts and makes connections between all disciplines. In the end, we hope to give our students another means to interpret the world around them and develop an appreciation for all of the visual and performing arts.

CURRICULUM

This is a modern dance-based curriculum integrated with ballet, jazz and world dance forms along with elements of Yoga and Pilates. Students experience dance through technique, improvisation, composition and performance. Four levels of dance are offered on the Winnetka campus to accommodate the developmental needs of male and female students from novice to the highly skilled dancer. The Northfield campus presently offers two levels: Kinetic Wellness 1/Dance 1 (no placement class necessary) and Freshman Dance 2 (placement class required).
Dance technique courses may be used to fulfill seven semesters of the Kinetic Wellness requirement for graduation. Any dance course taken in addition to a Kinetic Wellness class receives Fine Arts credit. This option allows students to include dance in their schedule as a Fine Arts elective.
Sophomore dancers in Dance 2,3,4 * and Menz Dance must fulfill the KW Health requirement for graduation either of two ways:

Dance 1st semester and Health 2nd semester

Dance two semesters and Health one semester during another period (This is the only option for sophomores recommended for Dance 4 ; Dance 4 must be taken the entire year)

All classes meet daily for approximately 30 minutes of activity. Dance Lab is a daily 75-minute class for serious minded advanced dancers to study in depth the art, craft and science of modern dance.

COURSE OFFERINGS

Except for Kinetic Wellness 1/Dance 1 and Dance 1 , level placement classes are required for registration. Students currently enrolled in dance are assessed in class. Placement classes are held for students new to NT dance. Courses may be repeated with permission of the instructor. All classes are sequentially arranged by ability level as follows:

Level Placement Class, Northfield Dance Studio Friday, January 19 4-5:30 pm. A class for rising freshmen interested in being placed into Freshman Dance 2 at the Northfield campus. Upperclassmen interested in being considered for higher level dance classes may also attend.
There will be one more class offered on January 26 for those who cannot attend this date

Level Placement Class, Northfield Dance Studio Wednesday, January 24, 4-5:30 pm. A class for rising freshmen interested in being placed into Freshman Dance 2 at the Northfield campus. Upperclassmen interested in being considered for higher level dance classes may also attend. This is the final class offered for placement (The first class was on 2/19/18)

Dance Day Northfield, in Cornog Friday, February 2, periods 5-9 free. A showcase celebration of student work, a culmination of in-class choreographic projects, as well as dances performed by NDE and Kinesis. Community members are welcome to attend

Northfield Dance Ensemble (NDE) Showcase, Northfield in Cornog Friday, February 2, 7:00 pm $5, free for New Trier students with ID. A showcase of student choreography

Kinesis Dance Company Concert, Northfield in Cornog Thursday and Friday, February 8 & 9, 7:00 pm, $7; Saturday, February 10, 2 pm $5. A formal winter concert by this junior and senior company. Choreography is created by the students, faculty and guest artists. Saturday is a Family matinee with special guests, Menz Dance. Auditions for new members will be held on May 15.

DTNT Choreographer Audition, Winnetka Dance Studios Tuesday, February 20, 3:30-6 pm All
Dance 3
,
Menz Dance
,
Dance 4
and
Dance Lab
students are encouraged to present original material to be considered for choreography in the April, Dance Theater New Trier Concert.

Dance Day Auditions , Winnetka Dance studios, Wednesday, February 21 3:30-6 Callbacks will be held on Wednesday, March 21, same location

Dance Day Winnetka, in Gaffney
Thursday, April 12 periods 1-9 free A showcase celebration of student work, including a culmination of in-class choreographic projects created by the freshman through senior students. Community members are welcome to attend.

MENZ Concert, Northfield in Cornog Thursday, April 26, 7 pm $5. A raucous, irreverent evening of dance, skits, and song performed by the students of Menz Dance. This is a one-night only, biennial concert.

Dance Theater New Trier Concert, Northfield in Cornog Thursday and Friday, May 3 & 4, 7:00 pm, $7. A formal concert by this student performance group, with choreography created by the students, faculty and guest artists. Rehearsals are held after school beginning in February.

Kinesis Audition, Winnetka Dance Studios Tuesday, May 15, 3:30-6 pm. An audition at the Winnetka Campus open to rising juniors and seniors. All students who are chosen for this ensemble are required to sign up for Dance Lab. However, all students are invited and encouraged to attend this audition simply for the experience and practice of auditioning.